Video call mediating apparatus, method and computer readable recording medium thereof

ABSTRACT

A video call mediating method includes: connecting, by a first terminal and a second terminal, to a video call platform; extracting a first identifier (ID) of a user of the first terminal and a second ID of a user of the second terminal, that is not displayed on the first terminal and the second terminal, during a video call; creating a first identification code for the first terminal and a second identification code of the second terminal from the first ID and the second ID, respectively; establishing a first video call session between the first terminal and the second terminal; creating a first image and a second image corresponding to the first terminal and the second terminal, respectively, with reference to the first identification code and the second identification code, respectively; and displaying the first image and the second image on a display of the first terminal and on a display of the second terminal, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2019-0033483 filed on Mar. 25, 2019 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a video call mediating apparatus,method and computer readable recording medium thereof, and moreparticularly, to a video call mediating apparatus that is capable ofspecifying a video call user through an image displayed on a video callscreen, and method and computer readable recording medium thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

With the development of communication technology and the miniaturizationof electronic devices, personal terminals are becoming widespread togeneral consumers. In particular, recently, portable personal terminalssuch as smart phones or smart tablets are widely used.

Most portable personal terminals are equipped with a communicationfunction, and thus these terminals may be connected to a communicationnetwork to exchange data with other terminals, and exchange, forexample, video and audio with other terminals.

By using such a function, a video call can be made between a pluralityof terminals. When a video call service is provided by accessing a videocall platform, a video call can be made between people who do not knoweach other.

Meanwhile, a user provided with a video call service may own an accountfor accessing the video call platform, but considering the userinterface and user experience, the user's account information may not beexposed on the video call screen.

In terms of privacy, when one user records a video call screen and opensit to the public, the account information of this user is not exposed onthe video call screen, making it difficult to specify the user.

Therefore, there is a need for a method to specify a user in some caseswithout compromising a smooth user interface and user experience.

SUMMARY

A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a video call mediatingapparatus that provides an image capable of specifying a video call useron a video call screen, and a method and computer readable recordingmedium thereof.

A video call mediating method according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure includes: connecting, by a first terminal and a secondterminal, to a video call platform; extracting a first identifier (ID)of a user of the first terminal and a second ID of a user of the secondterminal, that is not displayed on the first terminal and the secondterminal, during a video call; creating a first identification code forthe first terminal and a second identification code of the secondterminal from the first ID and the second ID, respectively; establishinga first video call session between the first terminal and the secondterminal; creating a first image and a second image corresponding to thefirst terminal and the second terminal, respectively, with reference tothe first identification code and the second identification code,respectively; and displaying the first image and the second image on adisplay of the first terminal and on a display of the second terminal,respectively.

Further, the first image and the second image may be a combination of aplurality of sub images, and each of the first identification code andthe second identification code may correspond to a number obtained byconverting each of the first ID and the second ID into an antilogarithmnumber corresponding to a total number of the plurality of sub imagesavailable.

Further, the first image and the second image may include the sub imagepredetermined according to a number corresponding to each digit of theantilogarithm number.

Further, the displaying the first image and the second image may displaythe first image and the second image on the display of the firstterminal and the display of the second terminal, in a floating form.

Further, the video call mediating method may further include:connecting, by a third terminal, to the video call platform; extractinga third ID of a user of the third terminal and creating a thirdidentification code for the third terminal from the third ID; ending thefirst video call session; establishing a second video call sessionbetween the first terminal and the third terminal; creating a thirdimage corresponding to the third terminal with reference to the thirdidentification code; and displaying the first image and third image onthe display of the first terminal and on a display of the thirdterminal.

Further, the video call mediating method may further include: newlycreating the first identification code corresponding to the firstterminal in response to the first video call session being ended;creating a fourth image corresponding to the first terminal withreference to the newly created first identification code; and displayingthe fourth image on the display of the first terminal.

Further, the third image may be a combination of a plurality of subimages, and the creating the third identification code corresponding tothe third terminal may include converting the third ID of the user ofthe third terminal into an antilogarithm number corresponding to anumber of the plurality of sub images available.

Meanwhile, a computer readable recording medium where a program forperforming a method is recorded may be provided.

Meanwhile, a video call mediating apparatus according to an embodimentof the present disclosure includes: a receiver for receiving a videocall mediating request from a plurality of terminals; an extractor forextracting a unique ID corresponding to a user of the terminal thattransmitted the video call mediating request; a controller for providingvideo call connection between at least two terminals among the pluralityof terminals, creating an identification code for each of the at leasttwo terminals connected by the video call, and creating a first imageand a second image corresponding to the at least two terminals,respectively, with reference to the identification code; and an outputinterface for outputting the first image and the second image on the atleast two terminals.

Further, the first image and the second image may be a combination of aplurality of sub images, and the identification code may correspond to anumber obtained by converting the unique ID into an antilogarithm numbercorresponding to a total number of the plurality of sub imagesavailable.

Further, the first image and the second image may include the sub imagepredetermined according to a number corresponding to each digit of theantilogarithm number.

Further, the output interface may display the first image and the secondimage on a display of the at least two terminals, respectively, in afloating form.

The present disclosure may provide a video call mediating apparatus thatprovides an image that is capable of specifying a video call user on avideo call screen, and a method and computer readable recording mediumthereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating an environment where a videocall mediating apparatus according to the present disclosure operates;

FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating a configuration of a videocall mediating apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a video call mediating methodaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a process in which a userspecifying image is created from a unique ID;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views illustrating an example of how a userspecifying image is displayed according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating an example of how a userspecifying image is displayed according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a video call mediating methodaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views illustrating an example of how a userspecifying image is displayed according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a video call mediating methodaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of a method for creating auser specifying image according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of how a user specifying imageis displayed according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;and

FIG. 12 is a view schematically illustrating a configuration of aterminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Advantages and characteristics of the present disclosure, and methodsfor achieving those advantages and characteristics will become clearwith reference to the embodiments described in detail hereinbelowtogether with the drawings attached. However, the present disclosure isnot limited to the embodiments disclosed hereinbelow, but may berealized in various different forms, and thus these embodiments areprovided in order to complete the disclosure of the present disclosureand to have a person skilled in the related art to completely understandthe scope of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure shallonly be defined by the scope of the claims. Throughout the entirety ofthe specification, like reference numerals indicate like componentelements.

Although “first” or “second” and the like are used to describe variouscomponents, such components are not limited by the above terms. Suchterms may be used only to distinguish one component from anothercomponent. Therefore, the first component mentioned hereinbelow may be asecond component within the technical concept of the present disclosure.

The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing embodiments onlyand are not intended to limit the invention. In this specification, thesingular also includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwisein the phrase. As used in this specification, “comprises” or“comprising” has the meaning that the stated component or step does notexclude the presence or addition of one or more other components orsteps.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein may be interpreted asmeanings that can be commonly understood by those skilled in the relatedart. In addition, terms that are defined in a commonly used dictionaryare not ideally or excessively interpreted unless they are specificallydefined clearly.

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating an environment where a videocall mediating apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure operates. Referring to FIG. 1, the environment where a firstterminal 100, a second terminal 200, and a third terminal 300 operate,may include a server 10, and the first terminal 100, the second terminal200, and the third terminal 300 that are mutually connected with theserver 10. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 1 illustrates only threeterminals, that is, the first terminal 100, the second terminal 200, andthe third terminal 300, but more than three terminals may be included.With respect to the terminal that may be added, except for thedescription to be specifically mentioned, the descriptions of the firstterminal 100, the second terminal 200, and the third terminal 300 may beapplied.

The server 10 may be connected to a communication network. The server 10may be mutually connected with another external apparatus through thecommunication network. The server 10 may transmit data to the otherapparatus to which it is mutually connected or receive data from theother apparatus.

The communication network that is connected with the server 10 mayinclude a wired communication network, a wireless communication network,or a composite communication network. The communication network mayinclude a mobile communication network such as 3G, LTE, or LTE-A, etc.The communication network may include a wired or wireless communicationnetwork such as Wi-Fi, UMTS/GPRS, or Ethernet, etc. The communicationnetwork may include a local area communication network such as MagneticSecure Transmission (MST), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), NearField Communication (NFC), ZigBee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, Bluetooth LowEnergy (BLE), or InfraRed communication (IR), etc. The communicationnetwork may include Local Area Network (LAN), Metropolitan Area Network(MAN), or Wide Area Network (WAN), etc.

The server 10 may be mutually connected with at least one of the firstterminal 100, the second terminal 200, and the third terminal 300through the communication network. If the server 10 is mutuallyconnected with the first terminal 100, the server 10 may mutually sendand receive data to and from the first terminal 100 through thecommunication network. If the server 10 is mutually connected with thesecond terminal 200, the server 10 may mutually send and receive data toand from the second terminal 200 through the communication network. Ifthe server 10 is mutually connected with the third terminal 300, theserver 10 may mutually send and receive data to and from the thirdterminal 300 through the communication network.

The server 10 may receive data from at least one of the first terminal100, the second terminal 200, and the third terminal 300. The server 10may perform an operation using the data received from at least one ofthe first terminal 100, the second terminal 200, and the third terminal300. The server 10 may transmit a result of the operation to at leastone of the first terminal 100, the second terminal 200, and the thirdterminal 300.

The server 10 may receive a video call mediating request from aplurality of terminals of the first terminal 100, the second terminal200, and the third terminal 300. The server 10 may select the pluralityof terminals that transmitted the mediating request. For example, theserver 10 may select the first terminal 100 and the second terminal 200among the first terminal 100, the second terminal 200, and the thirdterminal 300.

The server 10 may mediate a video call connection between the firstterminal 100 and the second terminal 200. For example, the server 10 maytransmit information of the connection with the first terminal 100 tothe second terminal 200. As another example, the server 10 may transmitinformation of the connection with the second terminal 200 to the firstterminal 100.

The information of the connection with the first terminal 100 mayinclude, for example, an IP address and a port number of the firstterminal 100. The second terminal 200 that received the information ofthe connection with the first terminal 100 may attempt to connect withthe first terminal 100 using the received information of the connection.

The information of the connection with the second terminal 200 mayinclude, for example, an IP address and a port number of the secondterminal 200. The first terminal 100 that received the information ofthe connection with the second terminal 200 may attempt to connect withthe second terminal 200 using the received information of theconnection.

As the attempt by the first terminal 100 to connect with the secondterminal 200 or the attempt by the second terminal 200 to connect withthe first terminal 100 succeeds, the video call session between thefirst terminal 100 and the second terminal 200 may be established.Through the video call session, the first terminal 100 may transmit animage or audio to the second terminal 200. The first terminal 100 mayencode the image or audio into a digital signal, and then transmit anencoded result to the second terminal 200.

Further, through the video call session, the first terminal 100 mayreceive an image or audio from the second terminal 200. The firstterminal 100 may receive an image or audio encoded into a digitalsignal, and then decode the received image or audio.

Through the video call session, the second terminal 200 may transmit theimage or audio to the first terminal 100. Further, through the videocall session, the second terminal 200 may receive the image or audiofrom the first terminal 100. In this way, a user of the first terminal100 and a user of the second terminal 200 may mutually have a videocall.

The first terminal 100, the second terminal 200, and the third terminal300 may, for example, be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, a smart tablet, a smart watch, a mobile terminal, a digitalcamera, a wearable device, or a portable electronic device, etc. Each ofthe first terminal 100, the second terminal 200, and the third terminal300 may execute a program or an application. The first terminal 100, thesecond terminal 200, and the third terminal 300 may all be the same typeof device, or may all be different types of devices.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating a configuration of the videocall mediating apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Referring to FIG. 2, the video call mediating apparatus 500according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a receiver510, an extractor 520, a controller 530, and an output interface 540.The video call mediating apparatus 500 may be the server 10 describedabove with reference to FIG. 1, and may operate as a video call platformthat mediates video calls between terminals in a communication network.

The receiver 510 receives the video call mediating request from aplurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals may be connected withthe video call mediating apparatus 500 through a communication network,and the video call mediating request may be transmitted to the receiver510 through the communication network.

Each of the plurality of terminals may be a desktop computer, a laptopcomputer, a smart phone, a smart tablet, a smart watch, a mobileterminal, a digital camera, a wearable device, or a portable electronicdevice, etc. as described above with reference to FIG. 1.

Further, the video call mediating request may be a request from oneterminal to another specific terminal, but there is no limitationthereto, and thus it may be a request from any one terminal to anotherrandom terminal.

The extractor 520 may extract a unique identifier (ID) corresponding toa user of the terminal that transmitted the video call mediatingrequest. The unique ID may be understood as a unique identifier assignedto the user of each terminal at the time of registering the user to beprovided with the video call service through the video call mediatingapparatus 500 or the video call platform.

The unique ID should not be the same as the unique ID pre-assigned toany other user using the video call service, and all the users using thevideo call service are assigned different unique IDs.

In this specification, for convenience of explanation, only cases wherethe unique ID consists of small cases alphabetic characters will bedescribed as examples.

The controller 530 may provide a video call connection between at leasttwo terminals among the plurality of terminals, may create anidentification code for each of the at least two terminals connected bythe video call, and may create a first image and a second imagecorresponding to the at least two terminals, respectively, withreference to the identification code.

The two terminals connected by the video call may be understood as theterminals that transmitted the video call mediating request to thereceiver 510, and the two terminals of the plurality of terminals thattransmitted the video call mediating request may each be determined as avideo call counterpart. The rest of the terminals except for the twoterminals may also be provided with the video call connection by thecontroller 530.

The identification code may be a unique value allocated to eachterminal, and may correspond to the unique ID assigned to each userusing the video call service. That is, the identification code may becreated with reference to the unique ID.

The first image and the second image are created with reference to theidentification code. If the two terminals connected by the video callare, for example, the first terminal and the second terminal, the firstimage and the second image correspond to the identification code of thefirst terminal and the second terminal, respectively. Since the firstimage and the second image are created with reference to theidentification code of the first terminal and the second terminal,respectively, it may be understood that the first image and the secondimage correspond to the first terminal and the second terminal,respectively.

Since the identification code may be created with reference to theunique ID, the first image and the second image may be used as a meansto specify the user of the first terminal and the user of the secondterminal, respectively.

The output interface 540 may output the first image and the second imageon the at least two terminals. Referring to the example mentioned above,the first image is output on the first terminal and the second image isoutput on the second terminal.

Meanwhile, the first image and the second image may combinations of aplurality of sub images, wherein the identification code may correspondto a number obtained by converting the unique ID into an antilogarithmnumber corresponding to the total number of the at least one sub imagesavailable.

Therefore, from the unique ID made up of small cases alphabeticcharacters, the identification code expressed in a n antilogarithmnumber may be created, and specifying images may be created from theidentification code. The image created from the controller 530 may bematched one-to-one with the corresponding terminal and be used tospecify the terminal.

Here, if the total number of types of the sub images that may beincluded in the first image and the second image is n, theidentification code may be expressed in a n antilogarithm number.Therefore, if the total number of types of the sub images is 4, theidentification code may be expressed in a 4 antilogarithm number.Numbers from 0 to 3 that may configure the identification code expressedin a 4 antilogarithm number may each be expressed in a different type ofsub image.

The image created with reference to the identification code (includingthe first image and the second image) may include a letter, a number, afigure, and a photo, etc., and the sub image may also be made up of atleast one of a letter, a number, a figure, and a photo. However, theimage and the sub image may include a different type of object otherthan a letter, a number, a figure, and a photo.

Meanwhile, the first image may be displayed on the first terminal butnot on the second terminal, and the second image may be displayed on thesecond terminal but not on the first terminal.

The output interface 540 may display the first image and the secondimage on a display of each of the at least two terminals in a floatingform. The image displayed in a floating form may move along a randompath on the display of the terminal. This may provide an interestingUser experience of having a video call.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the video call mediating methodaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG.3, the video call mediating method according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure includes a step of connecting, by the first terminaland the second terminal, to the video call platform (S110), a step ofextracting the unique ID corresponding to each user of the firstterminal and the second terminal (S120), a step of creating theidentification code for each of the first terminal and the secondterminal (S130), a step of establishing the first video call sessionbetween the first terminal and the second terminal (S140), a step ofcreating the first image and the second image corresponding to the firstterminal and the second terminal, respectively (S150), and a step ofdisplaying the first image and the second image (S160).

At S110, the video call platform that the first terminal and the secondterminal connect to is a platform that provides the video call serviceto the terminals connected to a communication network, and the server 10described above with reference to FIG. 1, or the video call mediatingapparatus 500 described above with reference to FIG. 2 may be a type ofthe video call platform.

As the first terminal and the second terminal connect to the video callplatform, they may be in a prepared state where they can receive thevideo call service.

At S120, the unique ID corresponding to each of the user of the firstterminal and the second terminal is extracted, wherein the unique ID isnot displayed on the first terminal or on the second terminal during thevideo call.

The unique ID may be understood as the unique identifier assigned to theuser of each terminal at the time of registration as the user in orderto be provided with the video call service through the video callplatform, and the unique ID must not be the same as the unique IDpre-assigned to any other user using the video call service, and all theusers using the video call service are assigned different unique IDs.

Therefore, each user may be specified through the unique ID, but for amore pleasant user experience, the unique ID may be set such that it isnot displayed on the user terminal during the video call, or such thatonly a portion of the unique ID is displayed for privacy reasons.Therefore, the user performing the video call cannot know the exactunique ID of the counterpart of the video call.

Even if preventing exposure of the unique ID has a purpose of protectingprivacy of users, there may exist users who exploit the protection ofprivacy, and thus it is desirable to prepare a method for specifying auser when necessary.

At step S120, the unique ID corresponding to the user of each terminalconnected to the video call platform may be extracted, and preparationsmay be made to create a new form of identifier that can specify the userexploiting the service leaning on anonymity, that is the abuser.

Meanwhile, in this specification, for convenience of explanation, anassumption will be made that the unique IDs of all the users are made upof small cases alphabetic characters.

At S130, from the unique ID, the identification code is created for eachof the first terminal and the second terminal. The identification codeis a unique value assigned to each terminal, that may correspond to theunique ID assigned to each user using the video call service. That is,the identification code may be created with reference to the unique ID.The identification code is referred to when creating the first image andthe second image at S150.

At S140, in response to the video call mediating request from the firstterminal and the second terminal, a first video call session isestablished between the first terminal and the second terminal. Thevideo call mediating request from the first terminal may not specify theuser of the second terminal as the video call counterpart, but there isno limitation thereto.

That is, the video call mediating request may be a request from oneterminal to another specific terminal, but there is no limitationthereto, and thus the video call mediating request may be a request fromany one terminal to another random terminal.

It may be understood that the two terminals connected by the video callare the terminals that transmitted the video call mediating request, andtwo random terminals of the plurality of terminals that transmitted thevideo call mediating request may each be determined as the video callcounterpart. In FIG. 3, it may be understood that the two randomterminals are the first terminal and the second terminal.

At S150, with reference to the identification code created at step S130,the first image and the second image corresponding to the first terminaland the second terminal, respectively, are created.

For the first terminal and the second terminal connected by the firstimage call session, the first image and the second image correspond tothe identification code of the first terminal and the second terminal,respectively. Since the first image and the second image are createdwith reference to the identification code of the first terminal and thesecond terminal, it may be understood that the first image and thesecond image correspond to the first terminal and the second terminal,respectively.

At S160, on the display of the first terminal and on the display of thesecond terminal, the first image and the second image are displayed,respectively. It may be understood that the display is a displayprovided in a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, asmart tablet, a smart watch, a mobile terminal, a digital camera, awearable device, or a portable electronic device, etc. as describedabove.

Meanwhile, the first image and the second image may be combinations ofat least one sub images, wherein the identification code may correspondto a number obtained by converting the unique ID into an antilogarithmnumber corresponding to the total number of the at least one sub imagesavailable.

Therefore, from the unique ID made up of small cases alphabeticcharacters, the identification code expressed in a n antilogarithmnumber may be created, and specifying images may be created from theidentification code. The specifying image may be matched one-to-one withthe terminal and be used to specify a terminal. Further, since theidentification code is created with reference to the unique ID, it isalso possible to specify the user through the specifying image.

Meanwhile, if the total number of types of the sub images that may beincluded in the first image and the second image is n, theidentification code may be expressed in a n antilogarithm number.Therefore, if the total number of types of the sub images is 4, theidentification code may be expressed in a 4 antilogarithm number.Numbers from 0 to 3 that may configure the identification code expressedin 4 antilogarithm may each be expressed in a different type of subimage.

The image created with reference to the identification code (includingthe first image and the second image) may include a letter, a number, afigure, and a photo, etc., and the sub image may also be made up of atleast one of a letter, a number, a figure, and a photo. However, theimage and the sub image may include a different type of object otherthan a letter, a number, a figure, and a photo.

Meanwhile, the first image may be displayed on the first terminal butnot on the second terminal, and the second image may be displayed on thesecond terminal but not on the first terminal.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a process in which a userspecifying image is created from the unique ID. In FIG. 4, an assumptionwill be made that the unique ID of a random terminal user is ‘patent’.

Referring to FIG. 4, the unique ID ‘patent’ may be substituted with‘160120051420’, wherein the alphabets from a to z may correspond to thenumbers from 1 to 26. Therefore, the ‘160120051420’ may be distinguishedinto ‘16’, ‘01’, ‘20’, ‘05’, ‘14’, and ‘20’, and it may be understoodthat each of the distinguished numbers is in an equality relationshipwith a specific small case alphabetic character.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 together, at step S130, theidentification code is created from the unique ID. Hereinafter, forconvenience of explanation, the random terminal will be defined as thefirst terminal. The number which is in an equal relationship with theunique ID, that is, the number ‘160120051420’, may be converted into anidentification code, wherein the identification code may be displayed ina predetermined specific antilogarithm method. For example, if the totalnumber of types of the sub images that may be included in the firstimage to be displayed on the first terminal is n, the identificationcode may be expressed in a n antilogarithm number.

The identification code, ‘2547E616DC’, illustrated in FIG. 4 is obtainedby converting ‘160120051420’ into a 16 antilogarithm number,‘160120051420’ being the unique ID displayed in a 10 antilogarithmnumber (decimal number), and it may be understood that the total numberof types of the sub images is 16. From 0 to F that may be included inthe identification code may each correspond to the predetermined subimage, and with reference to FIG. 4, one can know that theidentification code may be expressed as the first image including aplurality of sub images.

Meanwhile, the identification code is not necessarily expressed in a 16antilogarithm number (hexadecimal number) always, and as describedabove, it will be apparent to those skilled in the related art that theidentification code may be expressed in various antilogarithm numbersdepending on the total number of types of the sub images.

In FIG. 4, it is illustrated that the sub image is emoji, but this ismerely an embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus the sub imageis not necessarily limited to only emoji.

The first image is displayed on only the first terminal, and not on theterminal of the video call counterpart of the first terminal. Meanwhile,if the total number of types of the sub image is 26, ‘160120051420’,which is the number converted from the unique ID, can itself be theidentification code. Here, the number ‘160120051420’ may bedistinguished as ‘16’, ‘01’, ‘20’, ‘05’, ‘14’, and ‘20’ as describedabove, and each of the distinguished numbers may be expressed as apredetermined sub image. Therefore, in such a case, the first image mayconsist of a total of 6 sub images. That is, it may be understood thateach of the small case alphabetic characters corresponds one-to-one to26 sub images.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views illustrating an example of how a userspecifying image is displayed according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

First of all, FIG. 5A illustrates the first terminal being used by thefirst user. The video call screen illustrated in FIG. 5A may be definedas the first video call session established between the first terminaland the second terminal. An area where the first video call session isdisplayed may be defined as the display of the first terminal, and thedisplay may be distinguished into an area where the first user and thesecond user are displayed and an area where the first image isdisplayed.

The first image may consist of the plurality of sub images describedabove with reference to FIG. 4, and since the first image is displayedon only the first terminal that the first user uses, the second usercannot see the first image.

Meanwhile, in the case where the first user records the first video callsession and opens it to the public, privacy infringement on the seconduser may occur. In such a case, a problem may occur that, even thoughthe first user should be sanctioned not to use the video call service,if the ID of the first user is not exposed on the recorded screen, itmay not be possible to specify the first user.

As described above, the first image may be used to specify the firstuser, and by performing, in reverse order, the operations of creatingthe identification code from the unique ID of the first user and thencreating the first image, the unique ID of the first user can be derivedfrom the first image.

Next, FIG. 5B illustrates the second terminal being used by the seconduser. The video call screen illustrated in FIG. 5B may be defined as thefirst video call session established between the first terminal and thesecond terminal. An area where the first video call session is displayedmay be defined as the display of the second terminal, and the displaymay be distinguished into an area where the first user and the seconduser are displayed and an area where the second image is displayed.

The second image may consist of the plurality of sub images describedabove with reference to FIG. 4, and since the second image is displayedon only the second terminal that the second user uses, the first usercannot see the second image.

Meanwhile, in the case where the second user records the first videocall session and opens it to the public, privacy infringement on thefirst user may occur. In such a case, a problem may occur that, eventhough the second user should be sanctioned not to use the video callservice, if the ID of the second user is not exposed on the recordedscreen, it may not be possible to specify the second user.

The second image may be used to specify the second user, and byperforming, in reverse order, the operations of creating theidentification code from the unique ID of the second user and thencreating the second image, the unique ID of the second user can bederived from the second image.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, in the case wherea video call that does not expose a user's ID infringes upon anotheruser's privacy, the image call mediating apparatus and method accordingto the present disclosure provides a method for specifying the user whoinfringed upon privacy of the other user. The video call mediatingapparatus and method according to the present disclosure exposes aspecifying image that corresponds to the unique ID of the user on thevideo call screen, and therefore provides a new visual effect and alsothe effect of specifying the user responsible if a privacy infringementoccurs.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating an example of how a userspecifying image is displayed according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The image for specifying a user according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, for example, the first image orthe second image may be displayed on the display of the terminal in afloating form.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the second image displayed on the second terminalof the second user may move in up and down directions, which isdifferent from the form displayed on FIG. 5B. The second image maycontinuously move on the display of the second terminal while the firstvideo call session is being maintained, and the directions are notnecessarily limited to up and down directions. Therefore, the secondimage may move to up and down, left and right, and diagonal directions.

Referring to FIG. 6B, the plurality of sub images that make up thesecond image may move independently. Therefore, they can have a greaterdegree of freedom compared to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6A.However, since a user cannot be specified if the order, for example, theleft-right order of the sub images changes, the sub images may movewhile maintaining their order.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the second image as an example, but thedisplay method in a floating form is not limited to the second image.Therefore, together with the first image, the third image and the fourthimage may also be displayed in a floating form.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the image call mediating methodaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 7, the image call mediating method according to another embodimentof the present disclosure includes a step of connecting, by a thirdterminal, to the video call platform (S170), a step of extracting theunique ID of the user of the third terminal and creating theidentification code (S180), a step of ending the first image callsession (S190), a step of establishing a second video call sessionbetween the first terminal and the third terminal (S200), a step ofcreating a third image corresponding to the third terminal (S210), and astep of displaying the first image and the third image (S220).

The third terminal is a terminal being used by a third user, who isdifferent from the first user or the second user, and it may beunderstood that the third user is a user using the video call servicejust as the first user and the second user. At S180, the unique ID ofthe user of the third terminal who connected to the video call platformat S170, is extracted. Further, using the method described above withreference to the drawings attached, the identification code is createdfrom the unique ID.

At S190, the first image call session is ended, wherein the first videocall session may be ended by a request from the first terminal or thesecond terminal. The request to end the video call session may be arequest to end the video call service, or a request to end the currentvideo call session and establish a new video call session. For example,the request to end the video call session may be a request from thefirst terminal to establish a new video call session.

When the first video call session is ended at the request from the firstterminal or the second terminal at S190, the second video call session,which is a new video call session, is established between the firstterminal and the third terminal at S200. When the third video callsession is established, the first terminal and the third terminal maysend and receive various data that includes audio and images to and fromeach other through the third video call session.

At S210, with reference to the identification code for the thirdterminal created at S180, the third image corresponding to the thirdterminal, is created. The method for creating the third image is thesame as the method described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, andthus specific explanation of overlapping contents will be omitted.

At S220, on the display of the first terminal and the display of thethird display, the first image and the third image are displayed,respectively. The first image refers to the same image as the firstimage created at S150 described above with reference to FIG. 3. That is,the image created to correspond to a specific terminal may be maintainedthe same without change even when a new video call session isestablished. Meanwhile, according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure, when an existing video call session is ended and a new videocall session is established, a new image that is different from theexisting image, may be created.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views illustrating an example of how a userspecifying image is displayed according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

First of all, FIG. 8A illustrates the first terminal being used by thefirst user. The video call screen illustrated in FIG. 8A may be definedas the second video call session established between the first terminaland the third terminal. The area where the second video call session isdisplayed may be defined as the display of the first terminal, and thedisplay may be distinguished into the area where the first user and thethird user are displayed and the area where the first image isdisplayed.

According to an embodiment, even when a new video call session isestablished, an image corresponding to one terminal may not change, andthe first image illustrated in FIG. 8A may be the same as the firstimage illustrated in FIG. 5A. That is, when the first video call sessionis established between the first terminal and the second terminal, thefirst image for specifying the first user may be used in the same way inthe second video call session established between the first terminal andthe third terminal after the first video call session is ended.

Meanwhile, the first image is displayed on only the first terminal, andthus the third user cannot see the first image. However, since the firstimage is used for the purpose of specifying the first user, if a privacyinfringement occurs upon the third user, it may be possible to specifythe first user using the first image.

Next, FIG. 8B illustrates the third terminal being used by the thirduser. The video call screen illustrated in FIG. 8B may be defined as thesecond video call session established between the first terminal and thethird terminal. The area where the second video call session isdisplayed may be defined as the display of the third terminal, and thedisplay may be distinguished into the area where the first user and thethird user are displayed and the area where the third image isdisplayed.

The third image is for specifying the third user, and thus the thirdimage is different from the first image or the second image illustratedin FIG. 5, and it is also different from the first image illustrated inFIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the video call mediating methodaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 9, the video call mediating method according to the anotherembodiment of the present disclosure includes a step of newly creatingan identification code of the first terminal (S191), a step of creatinga fourth image corresponding to the first terminal (S192), a step ofestablishing a second video call session between the first terminal andthe third terminal (S200), a step of creating a third imagecorresponding to the third terminal (S210), and a step of displaying thethird image and the fourth image (S220 a).

At step S191, in response to the first video call session being endedbetween the first terminal and the second terminal, the identificationcode corresponding to the first terminal is newly created. As describedabove, the identification code is dependent on the unique ID of theuser, and a plurality of mutually different identification codes may becreated from the same unique ID utilizing a random value and a checksum.

Further, since the image for specifying a user is created with referenceto the identification code, at S192, a new image can be created withreference to the identification code newly created at S191. Therefore,the fourth image newly created at S191 may be different from the firstimage.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, even when anexisting video call session is ended and a new video call session isestablished, the same image may be used for a specific user. The videocall mediating method illustrated in FIG. 9 may create and display a newimage as the existing video call session is ended, and thereby make theuser feel a change of atmosphere.

At steps S200 and S210, the same operations described above for stepS200 and step S210 with reference to FIG. 7, are performed. Meanwhile,at step S220 a, substantially the same operations as those at step S220of FIG. 7 are performed, but the fourth image displayed at step S220 ais different from the first image displayed at step S220 a.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of the method for creating auser specifying image according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As described above with reference to FIG. 9, when a newvideo call session is established, an image different from the userspecifying image used in the existing video call session may be newlycreated. However, since the unique ID of a user is not a value thatchanges, a new image may be created by applying an appropriateconversion to the identification code created from the unique ID.

According to an embodiment, a random value and a check sum may be usedto create the new image. Hereinafter, description will be based on anexample where the random value is a 16 antilogarithm number just as theidentification code. However, the random value is a single digit number,and the check sum is defined as the remainder obtained by dividing thesum of each digit of the identification code and the random value by 16.

The random value may be added to the very first digit of theidentification code, and the check sum may be added to the very lastdigit of the identification code. For example, when the identificationcode ‘2547E616DC’ is created from ‘patent’ which is the unique ID of thefirst user, the random value from 0 to F may be added in front of ‘2’which is the very first digit number. Further, after the very last digit‘C’, the check sum from 0 to F may be added.

The random value may play the role of changing each digit of theidentification code. For example, in the case where ‘0’ is set as therandom value, ‘6’ may be determined as the check sum, wherein theidentification code may be converted into ‘02547E616DC6’. A setting maybe made not to change each digit of the identification code created fromthe unique ID, if the random value is ‘0’. Meanwhile, a setting may bemade to move each digit of the identification code forward if the randomvalue is ‘1’. For example, if the random value is ‘1’, theidentification code ‘2547E616DC’ may be converted into ‘1547E616DC2’.Further, here, the check sum may be determined to be ‘7’. Therefore, theidentification code may ultimately be converted into ‘1547E616DC27’.

The fourth image illustrated in FIG. 10 is an image that may specify thefirst user having the unique ID ‘patent’. The fourth image is differentfrom the first image, but may specify the same user. In the case ofcalculating the unique ID with reference to the fourth image,‘547E616DC2’ may be obtained with the first sub image and the last subimage removed, and since the first sub image corresponds to ‘1’, from‘547E616DC2’, ‘2547E616DC’ may be determined as the ultimateidentification code. Therefore, the unique ID ‘patent’ may be derivedfrom the fourth image.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of how the user specifyingimage is displayed according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates the first terminal that is being used by the firstuser. The video call screen illustrated in FIG. 11 may be defined as thesecond video call session established between the first terminal and thethird terminal. The second video call session is distinguished from thefirst video call session established between the first terminal and thesecond terminal.

The second video call session illustrated in FIG. 11 is substantiallythe same as the second video call session illustrated in FIG. 8A, butthe fourth image for specifying the first user who is the user of thefirst terminal is different from the first image of FIG. 8A. However,the first image and the fourth image are the same in that they may bothspecify the first user.

Meanwhile, in the case were the first user ends the second video callsession, and a new video call session, for example, a third video callsession is established between the first terminal and the fourthterminal, a new image that is different from both the first image andthe fourth image, may be created.

FIG. 12 is a view schematically illustrating a configuration of aterminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Referring to FIG. 12, the terminal apparatus 100 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure includes a control module 110, anextract module 120, and an output module 130. The control module 110enables the terminal apparatus 100 to connect to the video callplatform, and, by transmitting a video call mediating request, enables avideo call session to be established between the terminal apparatus 100and another terminal apparatus. Further, the control module 110 maycontrol the operations of the extract module 120 and the output module130.

The extract module 120 extracts account information for the user of theterminal apparatus 100 to connect to the video call platform. The uniqueID described above may be included in the account information.

The control module 110 creates the identification code from the uniqueID extracted by the extract module 120, and with reference to theidentification code again, the control module 110 creates a userspecifying image. The method in which the control module 110 extractsthe unique ID and creates the identification code and the userspecifying image may be the same as the method described above withreference to the drawings attached. Further, it may be understood thatthe user specifying image has the same characteristics as the first tofourth images described above with reference to the drawings attached.

Therefore, when a new video call session is established, the controlmodule 110 may create a new user specifying image, and the userspecifying image may include a plurality of sub images. Further, theuser specifying image may move freely on the display of the terminalapparatus 100, and the plurality of sub images may move independentlyfrom one another. However, the user specifying image is used for thepurpose to specify the user of the terminal apparatus 100, and thus itis desirable not to change the arrangement order of the plurality of subimages.

The output module 130 outputs the image that can specify the user of theterminal apparatus 100 on the display provided in the terminal apparatus100.

Meanwhile, it may be understood that the first to third terminalsdescribed above in the embodiments of the present disclosure includesubstantially the same configuration as the terminal apparatus 100illustrated in FIG. 12.

The embodiments described above may also be implemented in the form of arecording medium including instructions executable by a computer, suchas program modules, being executed by a computer. Computer readablemedia may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer, andmay include both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable andnon-removable media.

Further, the computer readable media may include computer storage media.The computer storage media may include both volatile and nonvolatile,removable and non-removable media implemented in any method ortechnology for storage of information such as computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules or other data.

At least one of the components, elements, modules or units (collectively“components” in this paragraph) represented by a block in the drawingssuch as FIG. 2 may be embodied as various numbers of hardware, softwareand/or firmware structures that execute respective functions describedabove, according to an exemplary embodiment. For example, at least oneof these components may use a direct circuit structure, such as amemory, a processor, a logic circuit, a look-up table, etc. that mayexecute the respective functions through controls of one or moremicroprocessors or other control apparatuses. Also, at least one ofthese components may be specifically embodied by a module, a program, ora part of code, which contains one or more executable instructions forperforming specified logic functions, and executed by one or moremicroprocessors or other control apparatuses. Further, at least one ofthese components may include or may be implemented by a processor suchas a central processing unit (CPU) that performs the respectivefunctions, a microprocessor, or the like. Two or more of thesecomponents may be combined into one single component which performs alloperations or functions of the combined two or more components. Also, atleast part of functions of at least one of these components may beperformed by another of these components. Further, although a bus is notillustrated in the above block diagrams, communication between thecomponents may be performed through the bus. Functional aspects of theabove exemplary embodiments may be implemented in algorithms thatexecute on one or more processors. Furthermore, the componentsrepresented by a block or processing steps may employ any number ofrelated art techniques for electronics configuration, signal processingand/or control, data processing and the like.

Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described withreference to the accompanying drawings, a person having ordinaryknowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertainswill understand that the embodiments may be implemented in other formswithout changing the technical concept or essential features of thepresent disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments described above are to beunderstood in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

1. A video call mediating method comprising: connecting, by a firstterminal and a second terminal, to a video call platform; extracting afirst identifier (ID) of a user of the first terminal and a second ID ofa user of the second terminal, that is not displayed on the firstterminal and the second terminal, during a video call; creating a firstidentification code for the first terminal and a second identificationcode of the second terminal from the first ID and the second ID,respectively; establishing a first video call session between the firstterminal and the second terminal; creating a first image and a secondimage corresponding to the first terminal and the second terminal,respectively, with reference to the first identification code and thesecond identification code, respectively; and displaying the first imageand the second image on a display of the first terminal and on a displayof the second terminal, respectively.
 2. The video call mediating methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the first image and the second image are acombination of a plurality of sub images.
 3. The video call mediatingmethod according to claim 2, wherein each of the first identificationcode and the second identification code corresponds to a number obtainedby converting each of the first ID and the second ID into anantilogarithm number corresponding to a total number of the plurality ofsub images available.
 4. The video call mediating method according toclaim 3, wherein the first image and the second image include the subimage predetermined according to a number corresponding to each digit ofthe antilogarithm number.
 5. The video call mediating method accordingto claim 1, wherein the displaying the first image and the second imagecomprises displaying the first image and the second image on the displayof the first terminal and the display of the second terminal, in afloating form.
 6. The video call mediating method according to claim 1,further comprising: connecting, by a third terminal, to the video callplatform; extracting a third ID of a user of the third terminal andcreating a third identification code for the third terminal from thethird ID; ending the first video call session; establishing a secondvideo call session between the first terminal and the third terminal;creating a third image corresponding to the third terminal withreference to the third identification code; and displaying the firstimage and third image on the display of the first terminal and on adisplay of the third terminal.
 7. The video call mediating methodaccording to claim 6, further comprising: newly creating the firstidentification code corresponding to the first terminal in response tothe first video call session being ended; creating a fourth imagecorresponding to the first terminal with reference to the newly createdfirst identification code; and displaying the fourth image on thedisplay of the first terminal.
 8. The video call mediating methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the third image is a combination of aplurality of sub images, and wherein the creating the thirdidentification code corresponding to the third terminal includesconverting the third ID of the user of the third terminal into anantilogarithm number corresponding to a number of the plurality of subimages available.
 9. A non-transitory computer readable recording mediumwhere a program for performing a method according to claim 1 isrecorded.
 10. A video call mediating apparatus comprising: a receiverreceiving a video call mediating request from a plurality of terminals;an extractor extracting a unique identifier corresponding to a user of aterminal that transmit the video call mediating request; a controllerproviding video call connection between at least two terminals among theplurality of terminals, creating an identification code for each of theat least two terminals connected by the video call connection, andcreating a first image and a second image corresponding to the at leasttwo terminals, respectively, with reference to the identification code;and an output interface outputting the first image and the second imageon the at least two terminals.
 11. The video call mediating apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein the first image and the second image area combination of a plurality of sub images.
 12. The video call mediatingapparatus according to claim 11, wherein the identification codecorresponds to a number obtained by converting the unique ID into anantilogarithm number corresponding to a total number of the plurality ofsub images available.
 13. The video call mediating apparatus accordingto claim 12, wherein the first image and the second image include thesub image predetermined according to a number corresponding to eachdigit of the antilogarithm number.
 14. The video call mediatingapparatus according to claim 10, wherein the output interface displaysthe first image and the second image on displays of the at least twoterminals, respectively, in a floating form.